2012 was an exciting year for the creative industries. The London 2012 Olympics showcased a wealth of creative talent, new technologies such as Arduino and 3D printing pushed the boundaries of what we consider 'digital design', and the industry as a whole found itself more resilient to the recession than others. But there may be trouble ahead if the UK government downgrades creativity and computing in its planned revision of the GCSE.
Here we bring together the ten most-popular in-depth features from 2012 – plus one heartwarming story that will bring a smile to your face that'll still be there come the New Year.
What's the creative legacy of the London 2012 Olympics?
Does nationality affect creativity?
Neil Bennett asks if where a creative was born and grew up leaves a legacy on their craft
Inside Britain's 5 best creative studios
Five agencies of all sizes tell Alice Ross what makes up their design DNA
Mat Dolphin's Tom Actman tells potential clients why they should avoid 99designs
Interview: Founder of #includedesign campaign to save Britain from a creative education crisis
3D Printshow report: What are the opportunities for artists and designers from 3D printing?
How to predict future design trends
Bill Gardner reveals what he thinks the next set of trends will be in logo design
Why Don't You? – 50 project briefs from leading creatives to inspire your next project
Create innovative interactive paper apps by mixing graphic design and printed electronics
Push the boundaries of digital design using projection-mapping, Arduino, Microsoft Kinect & more
3D printing used to create exoskeletons that help disabled children walk and feed themselves
A heartwarming story of how 3D printing can be used to change children's lives.